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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



POEMS 

BY 

Elizabeth HENDERSoii. 



^Q^^^^§^^^^ 






NEW YOKE: 
L. HANOWEE, PUBLISHER. 

1878. 



TO THE MEMORY OF 

FANNY FERN. 

WHOSE LIFE AND WORKS HAVE INSPIRED 

THE WRITER WITH WHAT TRUTH 

THESE PAGES MAY POSSESS, 

THESE POMES ARE 
AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED. 



New York, October loth 1878. 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the j^ear 1S78 by 

ELIZABETH HENDERSON, 
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 



1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 


CONTENTS. 


Page 

1 


An Autumn Memory 


A Sabbath Hymn 


3 


Love 


5 


A Mystery 

Dark and Fair 

A Dream of Life 

A Batjad of the Sea 

The Maid of Orleans 

The Cry of the Women 

Free Love 

A Keverie 

Tribute to Phrenology 

October 


.. 7 
.. 9 
.. 11 
.. 14 
.. 16 
.. 19 
.. 21 
.. 25 
.. 28 1 
29 


A Fragment 


. . 31 


A Glimpse of the Aftertime 

America 


.. 32 
. . 34 


A Retrospect 


. 35 
.. 37 
.. 39 
. . 41 


Esther 


The Revelation of a Thought .... 
Her Ideal 


A Voice of the Heart 


.. 43 


Apple Blossoms 


. . 45 







23. To A Picture Representing the Shep- 

herd OF Jerusalem at the Summit 

OF Calvary 47 

24. To Whittier 48 

25. Humanity 49 

26. Desire and Fulfilment 51 

27. A Backward Glance 53 

28. Comfort in the Dark 56 

29. Parted 59 

30. Departure 61 

31. The Suicide 63 

32. Equality 65 

33. A Query 69 

34. Coasting 71 

35. Sympathy 73 

36. Byron Aged Seven 75 

37. Penniless 77 

38. Joshua's Command 79 

39. Columbus 80 

40. The Letter 81 

41. A Forest Sketch 82 

42. Eyes 83 

43. Renunciation 84 

44. Prayer - 88 

45. The Passion of a Dream 91 

46. A Voice of Erin 95 

47. An Unwritten Poem 97 

48. To Willie 99 

49. An Invocation 101 

50. The Pestilence— 1878 104 

51. Water Lilies 107 

52. Progress 110 

53. Faces 113 



AN AUTUMN MEMOKY. 



A purple glory in the mellow air, 

A rift of blue sky overhead, 
Bright flecks, of sunlight everywhere, 

And chirping squirrel's tread. 
A shady hollow, in a dewy wood, 

Where gnarled trunks of oak and beech, 
AH draped in clustering vines, deep-dyed, 

In Autumn sunshine's reach. 

Shadowed a rock, with moss o'er grown, 

And half reclining there. 
With changing lights upon her brow, 

And sunlight in her hair. 
She sat, my hearts first fond ideal, 

Ah me ! the vision floateth dim. 
Above the mist of darkened years, 

Like glimpse of cherubim. 

Heart-wounds, have left their seams and 
Broken, its quivering strings, [scars, 

But rent and torn, her impress there. 
Still lives, a barren desert's spring. 



AN AUTUMN MEMOKY. 

Tlie sloping sun slid farther down; 

A lieavenly glory settled there, 
The rustling of the angel's wings, 

I heard, or seemed to hear, 
The daylight di'ew its ciimson folds, 

Athwart the sunset bars, 
I clasjDed her to my heart, and kissed, 

Her 'neath the purple stars. 

Oh! glimpse of heaven far beyond: 

Ecstatic hour of bliss, 
When two fond hearts blend into one. 

The Avild sweet rapture of a kiss. 
And that first kiss of love shall thrill. 

Her soul, when j^ulses cease to beat. 
When that eternity, she treads, 

My angel, with her gold winged feet. 

Oh! dark'ning gull, that yawns between, 

B}^ high ambition barred, 
I span thy depths, to thee, my queen. 

My soul floats, glory-starred. 

I burst the bonds of air and light. 

And view the shining cross, 
That sheds its gior}', beaming bright, 

Through upper fields of fi-ost, 
I catch the gleam of seraj^h wings, 

I sleep and clasp once more, 
Love's diadem, that faded quite, 

My longing eyes before. 



A SABBATH HYMN. 



Treasure up, Oh ! Christian gleaner, 

In thy harvest-field of Life, 
Every kindly word and action. 

Scattered 'mid the weeds of strife. 
For, mayhap, there may have fallen. 

From some sower's garnered store, 
One golden seed, of Christ's own reaping, 

That hath jielded, many more. 

Not where yellow sheaves are shining. 
Bursting with theii- golden grain. 

Bend thy steps, nor stand repining. 
That thy hand hath Httle gained. 



At your door there may stand fainting, 

Hungry, friendless, and alone, 
A fellow-creature, sadly pleading, 

Would'st thou give, for bread, a stone? 
'Mid the labyrinths of creed, 

Hedged by thorns of unbehef. 
Some poor sinner may be strugghng, 

Haste thou, to that soul's relief. 



A SABBATH HYMN. 



Seize thou, with a grasp unflinching, 

Clothed in armor of the Lord, 
The net, the atheist unwincing. 

Spreads athwart the sinner's road. 
Tear its flimsy strands asunder. 

By the power, God's strength hath 
Let the battle-cry of Ages, [wrought, 

Bing through all the grooves of thought. 

Tell, how when morn's crimson glory, 

Soon eclipsed by Bethlehem's star. 
Shone o'er Judea's watchful shepherds. 

How it guided them afar. 
How, when hosts of shining angels. 

Filled the Heaven's triumphant dome, 
That the morning stars together, 

Sang for joy, the Christ is born. 

Tell of that dark day, when Heaven, 
Frowned, and veiled its shining sun. 

When the temple's vail was rent, 
At the deed on Calvary done. 

How in shining clouds ascending, 
Emanuel reigns at God's right hand, 

How His glory ever sheddeth, 
Its rays through every land. ' 



LOVE. 



Lift thine eyes, Oh ! Christian reaper, 
Thou by faith shalt see the hght, 

That on Patmos' isle descended. 
When cried the angel, Write, 

Thou shalt see the wall of jasper, 
And the shining gates of pearl, 

Thou shalt taste thy life's fruition. 
Free from earthly care and toil. 



LOVE. 



Love is the essence of all mortal life, 

It lives in every passing breeze; 
That wafted o'er broad ocean, bears. 

Love's hiss to lover o'er the seas. 
The violet nodding in the meadow grass. 

Is kissed by sunshine warm and bright, 
The lily's opening cup unfolds, 

To woo the dew-drops of the night. 



LOVE. 



The rosebud's crimson petals hold. 

Wrapped in its glowing heart; 
A dream of Love, a promise sweet, 

Of its own bloom a part. 
Each little bird' on yonder bough, 

In some green tree-top has a mate, 
And cherishes, with mother care, 

Her brood, for Love's sweet sake. 

'Twas Love that lost a conqueror's fame, 

That shamed great Kome's proud day; 
When Egypt's queen a heart enthralled. 

That spiu-ned an Em]3U'e's sway; 
'Twas Love that wrecked, the sinless soul, 

Of Heloise, so young and fair; 
That bound her to a convent cell. 

In sohtude and prayer. 

'Tis Love that binds the broken heart. 

That cheers the fainting soul, 
'Tis Love that makes Life's labor sweet. 

And flecks with sunlight's gold; 
The life, that knows such weary hours; 

'Twere almost glad to know, 
The present merged in gloomy Death, 

Save for Love's circling glow. 



A MYSTERY. 



Is there a hell ? where black-browed spirits reign, 

Whose atmosphere is smoke and fire; 
Where tortured souls do writhe in pain, 

'Mid fumes of brimstone, dark and dire. 
Where light nor sound can never reach, 

Nor voice of mercy pierce the depths profound, 
Where devils hold their carnivals. 

O'er fallen souls chained down. 

Must the undying, and ^immortal soul. 

That glorious map, of mind and thought, 
Planned by the Architect of light. 

By whose great hand was wrought, 
Each latent power of heart and brain, 

That, guided by great WiU, 
Did fill Earth's limitless domain. 

With triumphs of inventive skill. 

Be lost forever? though the knee. 

Bow not in church, or shrine. 
Though not in vaulted priestly hall, 

Filled with the organ's chime. 



8 A MYSTEHY. 

The lips in honeyed phi'ases bland. 

Or lowly spoken tow, 
Have in the outward ear of man. 

The soul in homage bowed. 

"What! though the future's vast expanse, 

Be hidden from man's mortal eye, 
The grandeur of the immortal soul, 

Was never born to die. 
Witliin each heart, however seamed and scarred. 

By black crime's foul impress; 
Within each natm'e, rude or rough, 

There dwells some germ of loveliness. 

No heart e'er beat in human breast. 

But sometime held a love most dear, 
No human eye, e'er beamed with light, 

But sometime glistened with a tear. 
Each life holds something pure and good. 

Though deeply buried it may lie. 
And though hid from Earth's mortal view, 

'Twill bloom in vast Eternity. 



DAKK AND FAIR. 



Down in a valley, green and low, 

The Summer sun, and Winter snow, 
Fell upon a tiny cot, 

Shadowed by a tall oak's top; 
Within the cottage, dwelt a maid. 

With curling locks of auburn shade, 
Witching eyes, of brightest blue. 

Simple lass, so fond and true. 

Upon a mountain's rugged height, 

Stood a castle, tall and old, 
A lady fair, with brows of night. 

And raven hair in glossy folds. 
Watches from her turret pane. 

Though thickly falls the Autumn rain, 
For the prancing steed so white, 

That brings to her a steel-clad knight. 



Autumn's moons, have paled and waned. 
Winter passed, and balmy air. 

Kissed cot and castle, with the breath. 
Of May-time, sweetly fair. 



10 DAEK AND FAIR. 



Unto the lady's door there came, 
All in the eyenings sunset flame. 

A wanderer with a tiny babe, 
Craving shelter for her head. 



The knight lay on his bed of rest, 
His wedded bride in light robe drest. 

Bent o'er, and sheathed a ghttering knife, 
False, and fau', I take thy life. 

I leave the babe I claimed mine own, 
Cm'sed with thy blood, I now disown. 

Within his grave the knight rests well, 
His high-born lady in convent cell, 

But the maiden fair with eyes of blue. 
To her breast holds the infants two. 




A DKEAM OF LIFE. 



I had a dream of Life's great glory; 

And, marshalled in a phalanx deep, 
Heroes, and statesmen, great in story, 

I viewed, held by the Goddess Sleep; 
Methought, great bard, and painter lent, 

Their glorious j^resence to the throng; 
And one, who charmed with music only. 

Did wake my dull ear with his song. 

And circled with the wreath of glory. 

Bright laurels stained with human gore, 
The soldier's brow, blood-red before me, 

One moment gleamed, there past forever more 
And one, the statesman, he who lifted, 

High in the face of Heaven the cry, 
For human Right, and glorious Honor, 

Who crowned our land with Liberty : 

Stood towering high, in noble grandeur, 
His great brow lit with Heaven's own fire, 

Till neath the crumbling dust of ages. 
He fell, 'neath Time's great funeral pyre. 



12 A DEEAM OF LIFE. 

And he, the bard, whose starry splendor, 

Charmed lone hearts, into hfe anew, 
AVho filled with passion, pure and holy, 

Each sonl, and made Love's promise true. 
Stood, holding in his snowT hand, 

The harj) of his entrancing power, 
Then vanished into the dim forever. 

And Earth, and Eame knew him no more. 

And one whose gift of fadeless beaut}''. 

Lit the dull canvas with the glow. 
Of insj^iration, great and noble, 

"Who "mirror 3d Heaven in a face below," 
Stood, crowned with glorious bays before me, 

Fame's mightly seal upon his brow. 
Till down the labyrinth of the ages; 

He passed 'neath Life's dull sunset glow. 

And last, with strains of music flowing, 

' Round him, like balmy breezes blown, 
"Whose touch could wake the world to glory, 

O'er harp, or lute-striiig thrown, 
Stood he, the minstrel's fond ideal, 

Who homage held, of queen and king, 
A fading vision, dimly shadowed, 

Plis brow, and broke the trembling string. 

Then cried I, in deep voice of sorrow. 

Have all Earth'j; great and holy passed away, 

AMiat hope holds forth the dim to morrow. 
To strive along the toilsome way, 



A DEEAM OF LIFE. 13 

For beauty, giory, fame and genius, 

All perish in one fleeting gleam, 
And what are earth's most priceless jewels. 

That men their worth should e'er esteem. 

Then, thought I, througli that world of sleep, 

I heard the voice of an angel cry, 
Bring forth the Book, whose fadeless pages. 

Have ne'er been scanned by mortal eye. 
And there upon its spotless record. 

Inscribed in letters of pure gold, 
Lay chronicled, through untold ages, 

Each deed, heroic, true or bold, 
Earth's heroes e'er, had cherished. 

Each kind word spoken to the weak. 
Each fervent prayer, for erring manhood. 

Each loving word, Earth's children sj)eak. 

Then spake a Voice, through the sleep-world 

I, Sovereign of the Earth and sk}^ [ringing, 
Permit no noble deed to perish. 

No great and holy life to die. 
Oblivion cannot claim the glory, 

Of human life, great and diAdne, 
And in Eternity's great record, 

I keep these jewels of mine. 



A BALLAD OF THE SEA 



Where the great glad ocean sparkled, 

In the sunHght's golden sheen, 
There a good ship lay at anchor. 

With her snowy sails alean. 
Far o'er fields, of fragrant vineyard, 

Drenched in June-time's sweetest dew. 
Strolled young Jean and her boy-lover. 

Toward the western azui'e blue. 

She to follow Henri's fortunes. 
O'er the broad and briny deep, 

Left the chateau, when the midnight. 
Shadows, hushed the world to sleep/ 



On a gray, cold Autumn morning, 

Kode the stanch ship into port, 
But the faces of the seamen. 

Gave no sign of careless sport. 
Each by sad, and mournful visage. 

As one by one they stepped ashore, 
Told that soiTow's hand among them, 

Fell with bligliting touch, and sore. 



A BALLAD OF THE SEA. 15 

Then as gladsome friends flocked 'round 

Spoke the captain Jacques Lenore, [him, 
Two of our brave lads in ocean, 

Lie with salt waves gurgling o'er. 
One, a brave, and faithful seaman, 

Jean Leclerq, from Bordeaux town, 
From the mast-head's height was swept. 

By the fierceness of the storm. 

And his brave and gallant ship-mate. 

In the shock of sudden grief: 
O'er the ship's side, bounded Avildlj^ 

To his loved one's, vain relief. 
And the hungry waves dashed o'er them, 

Neither boat nor rope could reach. 
And in coral caverns darkling. 

There they lie, hands clasped in each. 

When one day we chanced to open. 

Our dead comrade's oaken chest, 
There we found the sweet girl-letters, 

To the lad, that she loved best; 
Then we knew our bravest seaman. 

Was a woman, young and fau-, 
For when Love holds woman captive. 

Every danger she will dare. 



THE MAID OF ORLEANS. 



When Charles, the sovereign, yainly sought, 

To hold his rightful crown, 
AVhen war upon his trembling throne, 

, With dii'eful gaze looked down ; 
"WHien in the madness of despair, 

His trusted counsellors Hed, I 

And France, in deej^est grief beheld. 

Proud England's march Avith dread. 

In that sunny land of corn and vine, 

There dwelt a rustic maid: 
Who in a country, wayside inn, 

Her cheery worth displayed; 
Perhaps the night-wind, to her ear, 

Brought munnui'ings, low and deep, 
Of glory, and of martial fame, 

Of victory yet asleep. 



Oh royal heart, of ancient time. 
Clothed in thy woman's grace, 

Thou feared'st not, the battle "s roar, 
Nor scrorchincf llames embrace. 



THE MAID OF OKLEANS. 17 

And what though dressed in armor bright, 

And mounted on thy snow-white steed, 
Proud France, her warriors in their might, 

Did trust thy hand to lead? 
Beneath thy warrior's coat of mail, 

There beat the woman's heart. 
Though born a nation's crown to win, 

To act the soldier's part. 

Oh ! when the tide of battle rolled, 

Around thy maiden brow. 
When shriek and groan and trumpets clang, 

And thundering cannon's roar, 
Assailed thine ear, and columned smoke, 

Did veil both earth and sky, 
Thy banner, with its emblem fair. 

Triumphant waved on liigh. 

And in the thickest of the fight, 

Thy snow-white palfrey bore. 
Thee, clothed in maiden grace sublime, 

The flower of France before. 
And beat each heart with loyal throb, 

When marshalled in the ranks of war, 
To know thy woman's courage led. 

Them neath the shield of Mars. 

And when Orleans' triumph won. 

Thy sovereign's crown restored. 
And France at thy illustrious slirine, 

Her lowHest homage poured. 



18 THE MAID OF ORLEANS. 

Then with the woman's cHnging faith. 

That hves unto the end, 
Thou in the service of thy king, 

His warrior ranks among; 
Did'st dare Compeigne's fatal day. 

Oh woman heart so brave, 
Thy life, and victory sublime. 

O'er hves time's tidal wave. 

Let England's court of justice hide. 

Her face in deepest shame ; 
Let infamy forever crown, 

Her infant monarch's reign. 
When young, and brave, and beautiful, 

Neath suj^erstition's demon eye. 
Unto the martyr's fiery stake. 

They led thee forth to die. 

Oh ! though within no honored grave. 

Thy sainted form finds rest. 
Though mid the dark waves dashing foam. 

By bigot hand, thine ashes cast; 
Ai'e lost to memory, ever dear, 

AVherever beats a loyal heart, 
Wherever woman's valor gains, 

For her, a royal part. 
Wherever in the endless march, 

Of ages yet to be. 
Shall woman's fame, a beacon rise. 

As guide for libeiiy. 



THE CEY OF THE WOMEN. 10 

There shall thy name, Oh valorous maid, 

In history's pages shrine, 
And fame's green chaplet, circle ne'r, 

A brio'hter brow than thine. 



THE CRY OF THE WOjVIEN. 



From the misty shores of the ocean, 

Where the great salt waves dash in; 
From the crowded work-roc nis tumult, 

Far above its deafening din: 
From quiet homes in the \si\lej, 

From the city's crowded street. 
Comes the cry of a thousand soldiers, 

Comes the tramp of a thousand feet. 

Muster us in, cry the soldiers. 

Give us a leader true, 
Who ever with strong endeavor, 

Shall be brave to dare and do. 
Give us the weaj)ons of honor, 

Give us the banner of love. 
Let our emblem of battle be, 

The eagle subdued by the dove. 



20 THE CRY OF THE WOMEN. 

We are old veterans all, 

Many the battle we've fought, 
In the silence of dreary homes, 

In the great dim Palace of Thought. 
Marshal us into the field, 

Not with sound of trumj^et or dmm, 
Nor with flash of shining sabre, 

Nor roar of booming gun. 

Not w^ith Illume or ej^aulet sliining, 

Let our leader brave be drest, 
But in meek and modest ajDj^arel, 

That all good women love best. 
Though we come with victory ringing, 

Her war-cry in our breasts. 
We have fought like heroes ever. 

We have vanquished greater foes, 
Than the epauletted warrior, 

On a gory battle field knows. 

We would not be crowned or sceptred, 
AYith gems or ghttering gold, 

But in place of deathless honor, 
Let our names be forever enrolled. 



FKEE LOVE. 



'Twas night, and all about, the winds 

Swayed, and shook the fir- tops drear. 

And through the billowy cloud, the moon 

Shone coldly down; 

Until the night, deejDened into morn. 

And all across the sky. 

There flushed the crimson dawn; 

"When fell a hush. 

And sleep did lay her hand ujDon my eye-Hds, 

And a vision brake before me. 

I thought upon a mountain height 

One stood; in raiment purple-dyed. 

And kings and princes of the earth. 

And they who 'stablished great in power, 

Obeisance to her made. 

And on her brow a seal was set, Mystery. * 

And gazing o'er a fertile j)lain, I saw 

A father at his toil; his children 'round his knee, 

And conscious pride upon his brow; 

A home of love and peace, 

* Kev. 17. 5. 



22 FKEE LO^^. 

And slie, the niotlier. tossing higli in arms, 

A babe. 

Thereat, the adulteress sj^ake ; 

"I bow men's hearts unto my vnW. 

Invade the homes of ^^eace, and sow 

The seeds of wantonness." 

I saw a maiden in a field, 

AVhere gleamed the autumn sheaves; 

The quail i^iped its shi'ill note, 

Among the gTainless stubble. 

And on a bough, the whistling black-bird sung. 

As if to rival her whose voice 

Like sweetest lute was strung. 

The flush of beaut}' on her brow, 

The light of heaven in her eye. 

I heard a voice, and lo ! 

One stood who drew 

AVith hurrving feet, the multitude. 

For words of fire and eloquence came forth, 

From hps that owned no tyrant's sway. 

And farther on, a wood I viewed, 

And there an altar. 

From which rose the smoke of sacrifice, 

And she, the great mother of harlots spake; 

"These are my sacrifices. 

Babes slaughtered before their bu'th. 

For where I rule, there lust and Avoe, 

Cumber all earth. 



FKEE LOVE. 23 

I passed again the toiler's cot; 
The father sat, clark-browed 
Hard by his desolate hearth-stone, 
His children, motherless; 
For she whom he loved had caught, 
The glamor of the sorceress' wiles, 
And so departed. 

The field that late in golden beauty bloomed 

Lay desolate, and she 

Whose starry eyes did mock the heaven. 

Stood with bared breast, and in her arms a babe. 

Then casting to the earth her gaze. 

She lifted up her voice and wept. 

"Ah me! that e'er I saw thy face, thou fiend, 

Or hstened to thy smooth, fair seeming tongue, 

My babe, fatherless. 

For he who gave thee being, worships her." 

And he who held entranced 
With words of truth, the multitude; 
Did grovel in the dust. 

His splendid brow fronting a brain, wherein 

[reigned chaos. 
Then thought I, where two roads did meet, 
There stood a holy man, whose hoary locks 
Did reverence command. 
He, lifting up his voice, cried 
" Hear ye. Oh ! righteous God. 
Thine altars are defiled, 



24 FEEE LOVE. 

Thy pleasant places laid waste; 

And where Thy sons and daughters trod 

In reverence, adoring thee ; 

Where Honor held her sway, 

Now wantonness runs riot through thy land." 

"And loye thou gayest, 

And sanctity of unity, 

The inyiolable marriage yow, 

Lies tramj^led in the dust of falsity. 

False creeds that fill thy children's hearts. 

Then lust that bringeth forth all deadly things 

By this adulteress, who standeth 

Even at the doors of them who preach thy word. " 

Thereat, the earth did quake. 

And One whose voice was like 

The rusliing of many waters, spake. 

"Let her who sitteth on the mountain 

Purple-clothed, perish in outer darkness. 

Blessed is he whose faith abideth. 

For to him who endureth to the end 

Behold! the crown." 




A REVERIE. 



L 



I am thinking to night of the sweet 

long ago, 
Of my childhood, so happy and free, 
Of the dear faces lying low under 

the mold, 
Though weary and heart-sick 

are we; 
We toilers, left to glean in the 

fields, 
Of ambition, hatred and strife, 
AVe glean , and we gather, and store, 

away care. 
And flee all the glory of life. 

We barter the God-given blessing 

of Peace, 
For the glittering dross of the world; 
We turn from the white-spired « 

temple of Truth, 
Where she dwells with her banner 

unfurled. 



26 A REVERIE. 

From tlie depths of Eartli's sorrowing 

lieart comes a wail, 
For the infinite peace that abides, 
In the great heart of Him who 

wounded with thorns, 
For the sins of the multitude died. 

In the tumult and din of the 

great city's stiife. 
The voice of the Father stiU lives; 
'Tis the still small voice of the 

innermost heart, 
That blessing the being, still gives, 
A hope for the future, a crown, 

and a palm, 
For the sorrowing souls that endure, 
That chastened by suffering out 

of the fire, 
Emerge, ever stainless and pure. 

Though deep in the strength of man's 

moral sense, 
Dwells the wish of the jDurest and best, 
The fountains of passion, temiDtation, 

and sin, 
Tempt the true heart away from 

i^ rest. 
For, when in the multitude. One of 

old set, 
The frail one accused by the throng, " 



A KEVERIE. 27 

Not one of tlie many, presumed to 

be first, 
To cast, ( liimseK, blameless of wrong ) 
A stone at the erring one who 

had sinned, 
But the voice of the Great One repHed, 
" Neither do I condemn thee, 

go sin no more, " 
For such the Son of man died. 

While the blue heavens above us 

endure. 
Perfection shall never find place 
In the heart of the pilgrim, till 

shadowing far. 
His eyes on the City of Grace, 
Shall rest in sweet quietude 

never away. 
To wander through darkness and gloom, 
For life is a battle with passion 

and strife, 
From the cradle to the tomb. 




TEIBUTE TO PHEENOLOGT. 



Great science, let thy mighty power, 

Embrace Earth's wide domain, 
And stretch thy glorious banner's folds. 

From river unto plain. 
Grand triumph of thy founder's skill, 

That compassed heart and thought. 
That all the reahns of intellect, 

To thy disciples taught. 
For lo ! within that arch of bone, 

There lieth the mighty plan. 
The Creator's vast immensity 

Of reason, fashioned by His hand. 

And He who framed the universe, 

Of man's unbounded thought. 
Has to thee given the magic key, 

That centuries have sought. 
Let atheists bow with reverence when, 

God's mighty truths j^rofound, 
AYithin the circle of the brain ; 

Bv thv "reat laws were found. 



OCTOBER. 



29 



Go view the intricacies of power, 

Held by the orbs of hght, 
The beams of eloquence divine, 

That ray fi'om brows of might. 
Go know thyself, that problem solved, 

The soul shall burst its mortal clod. 
Unfolded lies before thine eyes. 

The mystery of God. 



OCTOBEE. 



October! Oh! October! 

Pour out thy royal wine, 
Thy days of golden glory. 

Thy daisy-stars are mine; 
I know where tall red cardinals. 

Along the river grow, 
Where grapes in pur23le clusters, 

From oaken bouo-hs hangf low. 



I know where in the forest's heart, 
There glow the brightest leaves, 

Where lie the acorn's thickest. 
And where the cricket grieves. 



30 OCTOBEK. 

Oil ! there, the sumach llaunteth, 
Her radiant pkimes of flame, 

And there the partridge di'ummeth. 
Her wings among the fern. 

October! Oh! October! 

When last thy golden leaves. 
Shone in th}" purple gloaming, 

And gleamed thy garnered sheaves 
Oh! love, dear love, I wooed thee. 

The glory of that hour, 
The hidden bud of promise. 

Hath brought its perfect flower. 

October! dear October! 

When next thy sweet winds blow, 
The crown of wifely blessing, 

Ul3on my darling's brow, 
Shah fall to rest forever. 

When next thv daisies blow. 



>^^^^^^§-* 



A FEAGMENT. 



Oh.! Sea, thou art so broad, so broad, 
That none can compass thee; 

But my love, my love, is broader still, 
Sweetheart, for thee. 

Oh! Sun, thou art so bright, so bright; 

That none can face thy flame; 
But brighter still to me, 

Sweetheart, is thy name. 

Oh ! Earth, thou art so beautiful. 

That poets of thee sing, 
And minstrels old, thy praise have told. 

On many a trembling string. 

But neither oarth nor sun. 
Nor light of starry skies; 
E'er shone so beautiful, 
Sweetheart, as thine eyes. 



A GLIMPSE OF THE AFTERTIME. 



Oil! moon, round moon, I woo thee. 

As ever a lover liis love ; 
And none ever knew and loved thee, 

As I in thine azure above. 
I have lain on my restless pillow. 

Tossing in fever and pain. 
Till thy dim light coaxed and kissed me, 

And soothed me to rest again. 

Oh! moon, I know and love thee, 

I would know thy children too. 
And if they endure and suffer, 

As God's earthly children do. 
Oh! rare rich jewel of light, 

What wealth in thy jeweled shrine, 
Lieth hid in thy caverns of glory, 

For the student of after-time. 

For e're the firmament rifted. 
Together shall tremble and roll. 

And the glory of Jesus descending. 
Shall quiver from pole to pole. 



A GLIMPSE OF THE AFTEETIME. 33 

The eye of Science shall scan, 
Thy page and thy mystical plan, 

And all the wonder of heaven, 
And the secrets of the rain. 

Yea, there lieth a wonderful book, 

And its x^ages are centuries old, 
But eye hath not read, nor philosopher 

A ray of its wisdom untold, [shed. 

But there cometh an era of light. 

When the hemispheres shall meet, 
For over the ocean a kmg, 

Shall stride with his air-clad feet. 
We shall catch the whispering voices, 

And the hum of the Eastern world, 
In a flash of electric glory. 

And Science, her banner unfurled. 
Shall stalk with a giant's footsteps, 

Shall tell us how light had birth, 
And what the great glacier hideth, 

In the uttermost gloom of the earth. 

She shall trace all paths of the winds, 

And compass all gates of sound, 
And clasp in her march of progress. 

The horizon's mighty bound. 
There shall be but a step to sever, 

The old world and the new, 
For One shall abide forever. 

And His human children shall grow, 



34 AMEKICA. 

Nearer to heart of Creation, 

Wiser in hidden lore, 
And the glory of coming ages, 

Shall eclipse all wonders before. 



AMEEICA. 



Fling out thy banner folds Oh ! Earth, 

Let every land and clime. 
Fling out its ensign to the breeze, 

But none can equal thine. 

Oh! starry flag, thy colors true, 

Have weathered every blast, 
That o'er th}' radiant domain, 

The trj-ants hand hath cast. 
For since thy martyred saint pealed forth, 

The banner cry of love, 
Since that great hand of wisdom brake, 

The fetters of the slave. 

There is no gTandeur like thine own, 

Thou country' of the free. 
There is no charity so broad, 

As thine, thou land of Liberty. 



A RETEOSPECT. 



Oh! heart, pray still thy throbbing, 
Bend, heart, but do not break, 

Life hath its noble duty, 
Its sacrifice to make. 

Oh! heart, the days are dreary, 

The glory of thy youth. 
Hath with the violets faded, 

Once emblems of thy truth. 

But the scent of wildering roses. 

Steals o'er thy senses still, 
And Memory doth bring thee. 

Thy childhood visions still. 

Thine idols all have perished. 
Oh ! heart, when fondest grown. 

The love thou held'st the dearest. 
Grew cold as winter's snow. 

Thou can'st not bring thy childhood back, 

Its music and its bloom, 
Nor call the love thou gavest, 

From out its silent tomb. 



36 A KETHOSPECT. 

But thou, Oh ! heart, may'st gamer, 

And cherish every hour, 
The rays of comfort breaking. 

Like sunshine after shower. 

Oh! heart, a glory falleth. 

Like that on ripened sheaves. 

When autumn's sunray slanteth, 
Athwart the forest leaves. 

Go, draw the curtains of thy thought. 

And let the sunshine in. 
For with the bow of promise, 

Thy soul's high arch is spanned. 

Go, sow beside all waters, 
Time's tide flows swiftly on, 

And soon the dim light drifteth. 
That shadoweth the tomb. 

But thou, Oh! heart, shall rest. 
Not in its lowering gloom. 

Beyond the gates of heaven. 

Thou, lieai-t, shalt find thine own. 



ESTHER 



Oh! waves of Time's unbounded sea, 

Ye dash and foam above, 
The grave of centuries, and sweep, 

The shores of Faith and Love. 
But all too dee J) Life's jewels lie, 

Beneath thy lucent flood, 
Too dim her shining banner waves. 

Save where 'tis dyed in blood. 

But o'er the desert of the years. 

There floats the echo faint. 
Of thy sweet voice 'neath eastern palms, 

Vexmg with tearful plaint. 
Thy king. Oh ! queen, upon thy brows, 

The crown in splendor shone. 
Thy beauty hallowing thy desire. 

Before thy monarch's throne. 

But splendor of that titled court. 

Nor royal favor given. 
Shut out thy people's yearning cry. 

Nor closed thy heart to heaven. 



ESTHER. 

How beautiful thy clear faith shone, 

In God, and in thy king, 
Thy hand upon the sceptre laid, 

To gain thy boon of blessing. 

Perhaps thy heart some sad hope held, 

Of love nipped in its prime, 
Perhaps some Hebrew lover mourned, 

The troth thou could'st not bind. 

Oh ! sunny shades of tropic bloom, 

The burning sunlight's flow, 
Slants down upon thy palms and tombs, 

As centuries ago. 
When from thy monarch's gate, Oh! queen, 

Went out, in royal vestment clad, 
Thy foster sii'e, thy jieople free, 

With feast and music glad. 

And still thy race, Oh! beauteous queen, 

Do reverence to thy name. 
Who wert thy people's glorying, 

Thy foe's remorse and shame. 



THE REVELATION OF A THOUGHT. 



Once, through the infinitude of starry splendor, 

I gazed, till leaping pulses seemed to cease; 
Till through the immeasurability of space. 

The separated soul released, 
From bond of mortal pain, and sore desire, 

Did hang entranced above Eai-th's circle 

[round, 
And view through Heaven's immortal lenses, 

Peoples, and kingdoms, of the great world's 
Storms and earth-quakes far below me, [bound. 

Raged, and held their mighty sway, 
And the awed eyes of mortals lifted. 

Shone diioi through cloudy spray. 

The lights and shadows of the dim world 

Into that sea that men caU Time, [blended, 
Empires rose, and fell confounded. 

Controlled by Avarice and Crime. 
And men, theii* feUows e'er oppressing. 

Built high-walled towers, and prison ceUs, 
And reared great domes wherein to worship, 

The while then* souls did harbor hells. 



40 THE REVELATION OF A THOUGHT. 

The planets, in the thin ah' folded, 
Too, held their peopled spaces high, 

And creatures like to Earth's went roaming, 
Through theii' immensity of sky. 

Save that there dwelt no pain among them, 

No hfted hand its brother smote. 
No tyrant throned above his fellows, 

Clutched at his kinsman's thi'oat. 
Ambition, Fame, and Victory fell, 

Like bubbles floating on the ex^Dansive flood. 
And banners waved, and God's green valleys, 

Ean deep with human blood. 

All elements of sky and earth, 

Imprisoned lay in His great hand, 

And upper worlds in ether vanished, 
Or peopled, grew at His command. 

Earth's surface deep with rifted fissures. 
Shot forth triumi)hant tongues of flame, 

That gathering power through shifting ages, 
Koared, and seethed, and groaned in pain. 

Waiting the houi', when its own strength con- 
All Earth should quiver at her base, [suming. 

And men, and centuries, should vanish, 
In Dissolution's fierce embrace. 

But He, the unfathomed Mystery of thought. 
Sat throned, all firmaments above. 

The heavenly bow of beauty shining, 
With suns and planets far below; 



HER IDEAL. 41 

Above Him rose, Oh! eye, thou could' st not 

[fathom, 

The boundless immeasurability of space, 
No mortal eye of his creating, 

Can view His awful face. 



HER IDEAL. 



Darling, if thou truly love me, 
Bring me neither gems nor gold, 

Bring to me a noble manhood, 
Heart of true heroic mold. 

Darling, if thou would'st enthrall me. 

With Love's potent spell, 
Bring to me a loyal heart, 

A hand that doeth thy duty weU. 

Thou must wear with knightly honor, 
Man's crowning glory on thy heart, 

Virtue's jewel purely shining, 
Truth and courage taking part. 



42 HER IDEAL. 

I would will 'twere not beneath thee, 
To u]3lift with thy strong arm, 

A fallen one, thy strength protecting, 
Her from her own path of harm. 

I would thou might'st stoop to utter, 
Words of comfort to the weak, 

Passing not the little faces, 
In the dirt of crowded streets. 

Thou must school thy soul to suffer, 
Pain, if need be for thy good. 

In thyself, thyseK controlling. 
Hero true in heart and blood. 

I would not that I should lift thee. 
Step by step to stand by me, 

But that on thy strength relying, 
I might chmb to worship thee. 

I would darling, that thou woo me, 
Not with flattery's look or tone, 

Only bend that I may see thee, 
In Love's perfect light alone. 




A VOICE OF THE HEAKT. 



Blow, Oh winds, from farthest heaven; 

Circle suns, and waters roll, 
Thou art bringing Life's fruition. 

To the woman's weary soul. 
Many centuries have drifted, 

Down the ceaseless j^ath of Time, 
Men of power, law and precej)t, 

Made to stifle Lust and Crime. 

Many a sun hath set and risen; 

On great triumph of man's skill, 
Science's gates open before hun, 

"Where he wandered at his will. 
But her doors were barred to woman, 

All her glories from the gaze, 
Of the woman, seeing dimly. 

Through the Future's tangled maze, 

All the great expansive genius; 

That her soul held cramped in thought. 
All the embryo worlds of being, 

That great Wisdom's hand had wrought. 



U A VOICE OF THE HEAET. 

But no daring hand was lifted, 

Clearing a path for woman's right, 

Through the gloomy depths of ages. 
She has struggled in the night. 

Oh! the heart-woes that lie hidden, 

Deep, so dee-p, that none can see. 
Oh! the graves that hold unnumbered, 

Wrongs, in direst secrecy. 
Oh! that many a costly stone. 

Had written on its snowy face, 
"Murder, murder, trust in manhood, 

Brought her to this sad disgrace." 

Not by cord or sharpened steel. 

Do the fair young lives fade out, 
But the heart's most careful winning. 

And its careless wearing, torture 
More than brand, or lash, or knout. 

Woman, woman, who hast suffered, 
Wrongs and sins like unto thee. 

Woman, Avoman, thou hast borne them, 
AVith a martyr's purit3\ 

Pulpit, press, and they in honor. 

Held by social law's grim might, 
They have scorned thy pleading voices; 

They have spurned thy prayer for right- 
Queen art thou of hearth and home. 

Oh ! woman, but from thy high throne, 
By the hand of faithless judgment, 

Hast thou from thy place been torn. 



APPLE BLOSSOMS. 45 

Who but thou whose pangs of travail, 

E'en the angels dread to see, 
Clasping close thine infant blessing, 

Should its fittest guardian be. 
But the darkening clouds are lifting, 

From thy Future's sunlit sky, 
Truest dower of right and blessing, 

God shall give thee bye and bye. 



APPLE BLOSSOMS. 



Oh! snow}^ blooms, 3 our faint perfume, 

Your rose-tipped clusters sweet, 
Have come again, and veiled the boughs, 

O'er lanes where lovers meet. 
Adown, the orchard's sloping green, 

Lies hid in seas of white, 
Your petals showering softly down, 

In May-time's golden light. 

Drift down, drift down, your shimmering 

[bloom, 

The fragrance of your golden hearts. 
Oh! flowers of May, open thy leaves, 

As ope's my tranced heart. 



4G APPLE BLOSSOMS. 

For Oil! tliine odorous beauty. 
Fills heart and soul witli bliss, 

'Twerc worth a hfe of sighing, 
To feel her rapturous kiss. 

I bury in thy beauty. 

Oh! blooms, my burning cheek, 
The throbbing tide of ecstacy. 

The joy I cannot sjoeak. 
For ever}^ star in heaven. 

Burns deep with love-ht flame, 
And every zephyr whispers. 

To me, m}^ darhng's name. 

Upon her snowy pillow, 

She sleeps and dreams of me, 
Oh ! haste, Oh happ}^ morrow, 

That I her face may see. 
I wonder if like me she lives. 

In glorious aureole of light, 
Because the morrow's sunsliine brings, 

Oui' bridal mornino- bright. 




To A PiCTUEE, EePRESENTING THE ShEPHEKD 

OF Jerusalem at the Summit of Calvary. 



Shepherd, ou the verdant hillside, 

Where thy flock roamed at their will, 
Did'st thou view afar the Savior, 

Bleeding on dark Calvary's hill? 
Did'st thou see the mother kneeling. 

At his cross Avith glory crowned? 
Though the agonies of death, 

Racked the human hfe within. 
Oh! Earth, Oh! Earth, for thee was given. 

This sacrifice for sin. 

Oh ! would there were a pen could trace, 

In letters of immortal flame, 
The agony of that last night, 

In dark'ning Gethsemane. 
Oh ! would there were a master hand. 

To Earth by Heaven given. 
To paint the glory of that hour, 

When Jesus entered Heaven. 



TO WHITTIER 



Oh! true sweet singer, would the gift. 

Of radiant song were mine, 
That to thine ear some tribute sweet, 

Of tuneful blessing I might bring. 
For oft my soul upon the sea, 

Of Time, her rudder lost. 
Her port of Heaven dimly viewed. 

By earthly temj^ests tossed. 
Hath taken fi'om thy genial rhyme, 

Courage, and faith, and love. 
Hath chmbed thy golden stairs of song. 

To glimpse of peace above. 

Oh! if it be that souls in Heaven, 

Shall know each other there, 
"When all her pearly gates unfold. 

And angel hands thy soul shall bear 
Unto the great white throne of light, 

AVhat rapturous psalms shall greet thine 

[ear, 
The freedman's glad thanksgiving hymn. 

Thine entranced soul shall hear. 



HUMANITY. 



49 



The golden light that to thy brow, 

The poet's crown hath given, 
Brightening all thy peaceful ways, 

Shall brighter shine in Heaven. 
For in the paths of Truth and Right, 

Long have thy 23ure feet trod. 
One creed thy faithfiil pen upheld, 

"Humanity and God." 



HUMANITY. 



Oh! beauteous sunset, purple-fringed 

Thine airy mountains lie. 
Thy golden splendors touch with awe, 

The rapt beholder's eye. 
But all thy tinted beauty's glow, 

Thy castled spires of airy grace, 
Unto the artist eye grow dim. 

Beside a lovelv human face. 



Oh ! lovely lake, thy silver sheen, 
In sunbright glory shines, 

Mirrowing the heaven in thy face, 
When waxen lilies bloom. 



50 HUMANITY. 

Oh! firmament of light above, 

Thou far-off maze of blue, 
Upon th}' starry fields we gaze, 

"With raptui'e ever new. 

Oh! Histor}^, thy golden leaves, 

We turn in joy and pain, 
To read of emj)ii'es and of kings. 

And battles where like rain, 
Poured forth the bullet's leaden freight. 

The cannon's deafening din, 
And where thy standard bearers fell. 

Great victories to win. 

But all thy mui'derous battles fought, 

For kings or titled court, 
Nor blood-red victories dearly won, 

"Were worth one human heart. 
For dearer far to Him who trod, 

Our Earth, bearing within, 
Humanity's great depth of pain, 

The burden of our sin, 
Are outstretched hands of helpful care, 

Unto his suffering j^oor, 
Than roil of drum, or banner spread, 

Before triumphal War. 
The beatings of the human heart. 

He heareth every one, 
Nor scorns the simplest charity. 

Unto each other done. 



DESIRE AND FULFILMENT. 



Desire. 
Bonny red rose, thou art sweet, 

Sweet, yea and beautiful too ; 
With thy fire and thy passionate sweetness, 

And thy golden heart heavy with dew ; 
But rose, Oh ! rose, I have felt, 

In my heart a mystical truth. 
That there must be a sweeter and fairer, 

Than thou, in the garden of Youth. 

Oh! golden sunshine aflaming, 

And wrapping thy bright banner's folds 
Bound thine idols of sunset enthroned, 

On towers of purple and gold, 
Thy splendor of glory and passion. 

Fill all my soul with a yearning, 
For the invisible dream of delight, 

That shadows my heart with its presence. 
An unspoken, rapturous thrill. 

What chord of the heart hast thou touched, 
Oh ! magical finger of June, 

That I who love thee should long, 
For aught save thy sweetness and bloom. 



52 DESIRE AND FULFILMENT. 

Interpretation. 
Oh ! heart thou hast found thy desire, 

To yearn for and not to possess; 
Not the grace of her rounded white arm, 

Nor her red hps lovehness; 
Not the sheen of her golden hair faUing, 

Like sun-waves on fihny spray, 
Nor eyes starry-shinmg entranced thee, 

Oh ! heart from my keeping away, 
But a glory sui'passing all hoping, 

O'er shadowed her presence and brought, 
The mystical angel of Love, 

To beat with his shadowy wing, 
At the chambers of Passion and Thought. 

But she would not bend to my love, 
I would not declare it to her. 

And so poor dove, thou must sing. 
Alone in thy garden of fir. 

Fulfilment. 
She is mine, she is mine, and the rose. 

And the moon and the violet too. 
All know of the pledge she gave me. 

In the twihght purple Avith dew. 
For the opening roses peeped, 

And the moon sent out a ray. 
Of rifted light and glory, 

From her cloud-veiled sanctuary. 

She is mine. Oh! life thou art sweet, 
And thou shalt sweeter be, 



A BACKWARD GLANCE. 

For the touch of her pure lips clings, 

To mine in loyalty. 
Let it creep to thy depths, Oh ! heart, 

Hallowing thee. 
Hallowing thee with noblest truth, 

Blessing thee with pure dehght, 
Guiding thee in shining ways, 

A guardian angel bright. 



A BACKWARD GLANCE. 



Oh ! broad deep lowland meadow. 

With your vivid stretch of green. 
And your bogs, and ferns, and marshes. 

And your cardinals between. 
All the force, and all the j)assion. 

Of my child-life buried lies. 
In the sphere of Youth revolving. 

Bound the circle of the years. 

Phantasies of high ambition, 

'Mid thy cowslip tufts were planned. 
And my girlhood's sad rendition. 

Of its guiding master-hand, 



oi A BACKWARD GLANCE. 

Spent its sorrow by the rootlets, 
Of thy waving blades of green. 

Such a play-ground as the meadow. 
No other child-life oft hath seen. 

For nowhere in all the woodland, 

When the blue-bird piped her note. 
And the birchen buds were swelling, 

And the maple's nectar flowed. 
Grew such" tinted anemones. 

As in thy growth of hazel glowed. 
Not in any nurtured garden, 

GreAv such violets as bloomed, 
Mottled, white, and purple hearted, 

Kound th}^ springy marshes edge. 

There the grape vine's curling tendrils. 

Crept o'er thy grass}^ corner's space, 
And I knew where richest clusters, 

'Neath its circled leaves found place. 
Oh ! dear old lowland meadow. 

Thou wert my kingdom, I your queen, 
Untold mines of childish treasures, 

Hid within your wealth of green. 

There the birdnest in the bushes, 

Hid I fi'om all prying eyes, 
On the flat rock in the sunshine, 

Oft I found the speckled prize, 
Of the whipi)oorwill, whose music, 

Plaintive sweet fell on my ear, 



A BACKWAED GLANCE. 

When the round moon cast her shadow, 
On the cornfields waving ears. 

When waist-deep I saw the mowers, 

In thy blooming harvest stand, 
And the gleaming scythe-blades levelled, 

Plumy grass and spreading fern, 
How I tossed the fragrant hay-swaths. 

Drinking in their sweet perfume, 
Or beneath thy spreading chestnut. 

In the heart of fervid noons. 
Pondered, all my child-heart yearning. 

Ancient tales of love and wrong. 

Oh! old tune playground, time has brought, 

Changes both to you and me. 
For the curling locks that floated, 

AVind-kissed, on thy fragrant breeze, 
Now are streaked with silvery whiteness, 

And this heart beats faint and low. 
And thy greenness and thy beauty, 

Bloom no more as long ago. 
Grinding sound of wheel and hammer, 

Ring where once the robins sang, 
And thy marshes dark and grimy. 

Bear the stamp of Progress' hand. 



~ 



COMFOKT IN THE DARK 



Once when my weaiy heart grew weary of all 

restless life, 
I sat me down in solitude to brood, upon the 

world and all her wrongs. - 
My soul with pity overflowed, that I had not a 

hand so broad. 
That I might gather unto peaceful rest, all 

hearts that suffer with sore pain. 
" Ah ! me, I cried, if I might break aU bars of 

prisons, heal all wrongs. 
If I might fill all hearts with song, and teach 

the poet's pen sweet lays, 
Sweet melodies of praise, and bid liim sing of 

all things beautiful in thought. 
Eschewing all things sorrowful and sad." 

"If I might cast aside all creeds, all sects, all 

doctrines, all beliefs, 
Of hells, and sins, and vices black, and bring 

man from his selfish bondage back, and 
found one creed of love." 



COMFOKT IN THE DAKK. 57 

Unfurl one banner, all embossed in crimson 
and in white, and this its motto. 

"A new commandment I give unto you that 
ye love one another." 

Then should I depart in peace, but now my life, 

Sore-tested, with the weight of its own infir- 
mities doth grieve, 

That all so slow must this gTeat rendering be." 

" Centuries begin and end, and still shall man 

his brother slay. 
And knaves in high authority shall mock, and 

jeer at humble christian folk. 
That Science all too slow should trace, the 

secrets of the heaven's expanse. 
For with the grand discovery of peopled 

worlds of Heaven, 
There cometh signs of peace." 
Then thought I wandering in a valley deej), I 

saw one sitting at a loom of great propor- 
tion. 
He, slowly weaving threads of gold and black, 

of light and darkness, spake. ^ 

"Behold the tapestry of Time, behold the warp 
and woof of Life. 

For as the darkness and the light, do go to- 
gether making day and night. 

Else, all too soon thou would'st weary of the 
day, and sigh for silence and for dark, 

So do the threads of sorrow and of pain. 



58 CO^IFOET IN THE DAKK. 

Blend into warp of blessed deeds, that inter- 
woven with God's grace do form, 
A boundless breadth, that foldeth all eternity." 

"Thy mind the secrets of the heaven shall not 1 

rend, j 

Nor shall thy hand with bounty feed all earth, | 

nor banish crime forth from her wide | 

domain. ' j 

For this done by thee, then wert thou God. | 

His hand his earthly purposes doth guide, I 

His eye its watchful guard doth keep, ! 

O'er all his creatures locked in sleep. 

His hand doth lead each fateful being unto 

his wiser Avill, 
For there shall be a glory shadowing all eai-th, 
"When white-winged Peace shall have her birth." 

"And thy world is but one of many, those 

burning orbs above. 
Are peopled by unnumbered hosts, who think, 

and breath, and move. 
Thou art, Oh! man, a speck upon humanity's 

great flood. 
Yet not the least His eye escape, be faithful to 

thyself, espousing good. 
The glory of the Apocalypse, unto the writer 

of that mystery, to him were not revealed, 
If casting down his eyes to earth, he wandered, 

sighing at all human woes." 



PARTED. 59 

"Lift up thine eyes, and thou shalt see the hght, 
That circling all the soul shall bring, the glory 

of the Unseen One. 
Go cast thy mite of charity and love, into the 

treasure chest of all good works. 
Then shall his grace sufficient for all things, 
Fulfil thy human, and thy sjDiritual need." 



PAETED. 



There's a silence at the heai'th-stone, 

That no merry voice can break. 
There's a heart-chord ever silent. 

That no minstrel hand can wake. 
June-time roses ne'r Avere sweeter, 

So I hear the children say, 
And I look u]3on their faces, 

And I watch them at their play. 
But the roses seem so withered, 

And the child-faces so old, 
And the sunshine look so pale. 

So unlike its oldtime gold. 



60 PARTED. 

I have lost the human yearning, 

For the touch of thy dear lips. 
And the hght of thy sweet eyes, 

Veiled in such a strange eclipse. 
And the agony. of longing. 

For thy warm soft hand in mine. 
Loses its exquisite paining, 

'Neath the healing touch of Time. 

But when little footsteps near me. 

Little hands clasp mama's own. 
Little li^DS held up to kiss me. 

Shyly ask, "where's papa gone," 
Then I say, "gone with the angels," 

And I look at heaven's blue. 
And wonder if a straggling sunray. 

Of God s gloiy will peep through. 

Sometimes when the pale white shadow. 

Of the moon falls on my bed, 
Making squares of silvery light. 

And creej)ing over baby's head, 
I think I see thee stand so near me. 

That I lie, afraid to breathe, 
Lest thou answer and departing, 

Break the blessed dream of i:)eace. 

When the sky hangs out her golden. 

Banners in the early morn, 
And the blue's sweet curling vapors, 

Kise like thouerhts to heaven borne. 



DEPAKTURE. Gl 

I breathe a prayer that they may bear thee, 

In thy home of rest and peace, 
( For Eternity will linger, 

When the heaven and earth have ceased,) 
Just this token of my longing. 

For thy blessed x^resencc here, 
" Darling, darling, I shall love thee, 

Better for these parted years." 
For I think in the far heaven. 

Of the future, souls unite, 
And I know the heavenly Father, 

Out of darkness bringeth light. 



DEPARTURE. 



Did a ray of thy light, Oh! sun. 

From its focus break and flee. 
And float through the dim forever, 

To be lost in eternity? 
Did a tint of thy blue, Oh ! heaven. 

Go forth from its glorious sky, 
To shine in the path of the angels. 

Or mix with the rainbow's dye. 



62 DEPAKTURE. 

For in vain have I opened the windows. 

And the lattice of measureless thought, 
And my soul hath traversed all her ways, 

And found not the dayUght she sought. 
For he, Oh ! my love, my love. 

Like the winds he roveth afar, 
And with him the glory has fled, 

From sunshine and from star. 

The downy fleece of the north, 

Lieth white over stile and lane. 
And with glittering gems of winter. 

The branches are all aflame. 
But the song of the bii'd is hushed, 

And the heart's sweet music is dumb. 
And the shadowy halls of dehght, 

"With cyjDress and willow are hung. 

But the breath of the spring will melt. 

The garlands of ice, and the snow, 
And the woodbird will sing in the tree. 

And the snowdrops in beauty will blow. 
And thou, Oh ! my darling will wait. 

Thy light feet brushing the dew. 
Oh ! love, at our tiysting jolace, 

When the roses are budding anew. 



THE SUICIDE. 



Weary of all worldly scorning, 

Weary of all earthly strife, 
Ever yearning, ne'er receiving, 

W^liat liis lieart most dearly jDrized. 
Not t!io crust that human grudging. 

Doled to him in pity's name, 
Nor where with his want supplying, 

Counted he as loss or gain. 

'Twas some cankered chord of sorrow, 

In the heart, that longed to break, 
'Twas the lack of human loving, 

Marked the white appealing face. 
Close his 03- es, and fold his hands, 

Gently on the quiet breast. 
Some where in the world's confusion. 

Beats some heart that he loved best. 

Some white hand that all unheeding. 
Dropped the poisoned arrow there, 

In another's clasped, may closer. 
Linger in that other's care. 



64 THE SUICIDE. 

Her proud eyes that drew liim onward, 
To the goal of love and faith, 

May not look in careless scorning, 
On the handiwork of Death. 

Euby lips that once he kissed, 

Lips that trembled at his touch. 
Wedded to another's, never. 

Long for him who loved her much. 
What to him that hearts were breaking, 

In his pathway every day, 
Human sorrow makes no weaker, 

Pangs that eat the heart away. 

Hearts may break, and graves may gather. 

Suns A\411 shine and flowers blow. 
And the endless crowd keep surging. 

And swaying to and fro. 
Fold his hands and have no crying, 

'Tis the living, not the dead. 
That demand the tears and heart-aches. 

And the silent pangs of dread. 

Done with all Life's bitter striving. 

Peaceful is his brow and calm. 
Tired of the dreary waiting, 

For the healing balm of Time. 
Let no scornful tongue upbraid him, 

For the way was very long. 
Let the Heavenly Father judge him. 

He repaireth every Avrong. 



EQUALITY. 



A broad green stretch of woodland, 

Cut tlarougli by bridle paths, 
A traveller in the early morn, 

Brushing the dewy grass. 
A cottage in the shadow, 

Of a grand old drooping elm, 
A girl-face in the doorway, 

The wildrose sprays between. 

Just a rosetint of the daylight, 

Shadowed the departing star. 
Just a mist of filmy vapor, 

O'er the birch-tops rising far. 
Faintest note of robin calling. 

To its mate within the wood, 
And the ring-dove's tender wooing, 

Ringing through the dewy glade. 

Sweeter than the wood-bird's calling. 
Or the robin's note, there came. 

Floating through the open doorway, 
A song of love and blame. 



EQUALITY. 

"Thou hast lightly, lightly wooed me, 
But thou shalt not win the same. 

For I know thou art a rover, 

Caring not for Love's sweet pain." 

" Thou would'st value, dearly, dearly. 

Some neAV trophy of the wood, 
And thy scientific searching, 

Dost thou deem thy highest good. 
Thou would'st track the bu'd and bee. 

To its haunt, and spy the snake, 
Pierce the butterfly, and hold it, 

With the ground-mole in the brake.'' 

"Thou hast not a heart for loving. 

Dearer to thee, roll of Fame, 
Though thou woo in courtly fashion, 

All thy heart repels its flame. 
Thou hast wooed, thou shalt not win, 

Hearts are not an easy prize, 
Thou shalt find no sign of yielding, 

In the light of scornful eyes." 

Near, and nearer came the wooer. 

All his faithfid heart aflame, 
And his longing eyes ashining, 

In his heart the echo thiilling, 
Of his darling's name. 

'' She is thinking, thinking, thinking. 
As she goes her quiet ways, 

Of the sweet and tender kisses. 



EQUALITY. 

'Neath tlie sunset's fading rays. 

On her cheek the rose-blush burning. 
Tells the tale her lips deny, 

And the endless joy of loving, 
Ghstens in her shining eyes." 



67 



Twilight in the purple meadow, 

Twilight in the forest glade. 
And the bird and bee were nestled. 

In their haunts, and not afraid. 
For the cunning hand lay idle, 

And the lover's tears in vain. 
On the emerald mosses' carpet, 

Fell like dripping April rain. 

"Love, Oh! Love thou art so fickle, 

Bittersweet art thou and rue, 
"When I clipped thy wings and held thee. 

From my grasp thou soonest flew. 
If I let thee fly unheeding, 

Thou would'st surely follow me. 
When I pursue, then from my vision," 

Thou wilt surely flee. 



Daylight in the purple meadow, 

Daylight in the dewy wood. 
Where the spreading ferns grew thickest, 

There the maid repenting stood. 



€8 EQUALITY. 

*' I had never missed tlie kissing, 

Of my darling's dewy lips, 
I had never missed the pressure, 

Of his warm hand's tender clasp. 
I had never missed his presence, 

In the woodland's shaded bowers, 
Till he roamed, no more returning. 

In the twilight's rapturous hours/ 

" When a woman bends to pity, 

She is very near to scorn," 
Came an answer, "when man pities, 

In lus heart there burneth long, 
Fathful care and tenderest loving, 

Woman's weak and man is strong." 

Only the wood-bird, rocking, rocking, 

' In his breezy cradle hears, 

Love's fond crooning, and the pinetops, 

Murmured olden tales of tears, 
Sweet are dewy morns in Summer, 

Sweet the golden stars above. 
Sweeter than all nature's beauty. 

Is equahty of Love. 




A QUEKY, 



Does the will, whose strength and action, 

Guideth by its mighty j^ower, 
Ever}' human thought and passion, 

Live when mortal life is o'er? 
When the pulse beats slow and feeble. 

When the eye is dimmed in Death, 
When no more the heart's red fountains, 

Flow to stay the fleeting breath. 

Is the will, the soul of being. 

Is it of that soul a part, 
Doth it live through endless ages. 

Is it brain, or thought's great chart? 
Tell us if in future vision, 

We shall view Earth's scenes again, 
View her children ever striving. 

With care and sorrow, woe and pain. 

Heart of man can never fathom, 
Secrets of the great Unknown, 

Comes there from the dim forever, 
Neither light nor far-off sound. 



70 A QUERY. 

"W'e can only trust the wisdom, 

Of that Being, he who set, 
The great heart of nature throbbing. 

He who guides her pulses yet. 

He who fashioned every leaflet. 

He who letteth fall the rain. 
He who holds each human life, 

In the hollow of His hand. 
Why then fi-et the present life, 

With questioning, and doubt and dread, 
AYhy contest in endless volumes, 

Of the soul-life of the dead. 

He who fashioned human forms, 
In His own likeness great and fair. 

Surely we may trust the future, 
In His great infinite care. 

Life is full of noble duties. 

That each one may find to do, 
Life is fuU of lives so saddened. 

That scarce a sunray pierceth through. 
Science in its march of progi-ess, 

Needeth brain, and mind, and heart. 
Every back to its own burden, 

Is fitted, each to bear its j^art. 
If there be a bridge connecting, 

Eartli and Heaven, there must be, 
Weeping in that land of glory, 

At the sins the anjxels see. 



COASTING. 



The drifted snow lay heayily. 

Upon the frozen hills, 
And all the travelled spaces, 

Between the fences fiUed. 
A thousand jewels glittering hung, 

From branch of fir and pine, 
A thousand gems of brilliant flashed. 

Far o'er the frozq^i rime. 

And all the boys with rustic sleds. 

Upon the hilltop stood. 
Each singled out his little mate. 

And close beside her stood. 
But one stood far apart, and held, 

His head down and began. 
To parley with an elder boy, 

Who thought himself a man. 

" I gave you top, and kite, and ball, 

My marbles and my slate, 
Nor murmured, 3"ou can have them all, 

But not my little Kate." 



72 COASTING. 

The little maiden raised her eyes, 

To his with timid look. 
Now said the elder, "I will^ve, 

Your playthings and my book." 

"But Kate shall ride with me to day. 
Because she likes me best," 

The little head bent down, and tears, 
Fell on the ragged vest. 



Ten summers filled with spicy bloom. 

Ten winters with their snows, 
Have past and all the perfumed air. 

Floats, burdened with the flowers. 
And little Kate has taller grown, 

And at her cottage door, 
There stands a prancing team of bays, 

And he who claimed her years before, 
Pleads with a lover's earnest tone. 

For her sweet lips to bless. 
Her bridal vow, for holds she not. 

His Hfetime's happiness? 

"Oh! wealth is strong, and woman weak, 

Proud Kate replied, but I, 
Will have first, love and honest worth, 

And true heart's chivalry." 
A tail fonn through the open door, 

Passed, and her proud cheek flushed. 



SYMPATHY. 73 

Her eyes met his, and o'er his brow, 
Then flits a manly blush. 

At his proud rival standing there, 

Who offered wealth and fame, 
And he no heritage could bring, 

Save love and spotless name. 
She turned her proud face to his own, 

He clasped her to his breast, 
"Now Kate will ride with me to day, 

Because she loves me best." 



SYMPATHY. 



The rarest gems that ever shone, 

In circlet or in crown. 
Were by the patient toiler's hand, 

From deepest caverns wrung. 
The sweetest songs that ever stirred, 

The fountains of the heart, 
Were of the singer's anguished soul. 

Themselves a bitter part. 



74 SYMPATHY. 

Tlie sweetest liuman eyes we meet, 

Are dim with unslied tears, 
The dearest faces that we greet, 

Are stamped by anguished years. 
If there were no tearful partings, 

No happy meetings would there be, 
If no lowering clouds were lifted, 

No sunshine should we see. 



If there were no hearts to love us. 

He had not given us hearts to love, 
If no heaven, he had not made us, 

Long for peaceful rest above. 
If he willed not we should suffer, 

He had not given us tears to shed. 
If no strength to bear our trials, 

Upon us they had not been laid. 

"We know He dwelleth in the heaven. 

But we cannot pierce the mist, 
Of the soul's travail and sorrow. 

When Life's crowning joy we miss. 
W^ho can sooth the moui'ning mother. 

Like her who late hath laid to rest. 
In its grave the baby face. 

Of all her treasures loved the best. 
Wlio can utter words of comfort. 

When black sorrow's cui> o'erflows. 
Like the lips that worn and faded. 

Have quaffed its bitterest woes. 



BYEON, AGED SEVEN. 



When the shadowy curtains of eve, 

Are drawn, and the lamps are Ht, 
And the evening hearth-fires are bright, 

Through the opening door there flits, 
A shadow that's fair and bright, 

And two Httle arms entwine. 
My neck, and the rosy mouth. 

Is held up to Idss, and the lips, 
Are warm with the glory of youth. 

And the great gray eyes are ashine, 

And they beam with a far-off look. 
Little cares Byron for kite or ball, 

For toy or picture book. 
He asks of the sky, and the stars, 

And if the Father dwells. 
In the heaven always, or comes. 

To sta}^ in our homes as well. 

He chases the birds and the bees. 
And the bright winged butterfly too. 

And the humming-bird he snares in the 
Of the lily freighted with dew. [cup, 



76 BYKON, AGED SEVEN. 

He knows where the field-mouse burrows, 
Where ghcle the speckled trout, 

And when the first blue violets, 
From the meadow grass peep out. 

He goes out in his shining ginghams, 
And comes in stained with dirt, 

For marvellous treasures are hid, 
For him in the fui"rowed rows. 

Of the fields where the stately corn, 
Throws out its tassels, and drinks. 

The dew of the summer morns. 

And when the royal harvesting. 

Of the autumn time is here, 
From the orchard's dancing shadows, 

His merry laugh rings clear. 
Down rains the golden finiitage. 

In the sunshine's quivering flash. 
From leafy boughs, or piled full high. 

In heaps among the grass. 

When the patient oxen toil. 

Up the hill with tiresome freight, 
Of golden ears, he swings his cap, 

And cheers, perched on his risky seat, 
When the yellow pumpkins ripen, 
I He claims the biggest as his prize, 

j Tugging up the rough-hewn doorsteps, 

"This is mine for saucer-pies." 



PENNILESS. 77 

His little heart holds no deceit, 

No touch of intrigue or of art, 
He likes, and dislikes, nothing loth, 

To cut your friendship short. 
If any favorite whim you cross, 

Mama is his stronghold ever. 
His umpire and his joy, 

And no treasure doth she prize. 
Like her mischief making boy. 



PENNILESS. 



Heart-sick and weary, and penniless too, 

Starving and toiling for bread, 

Rain beating down on the curtainlesspane, 

Beating down too, on the dead, 

Who lie in their graves and feel not the 

grip, 
Of Poverty's unyielding hand, 
Sorrow and misery mocking the name. 
Of Christ in a Christian land. 



78 



PENNILESS. 



Here in a garret with only a crust, 
Babes wailing with hunger and cold, 
Over the way there's plenty and wealth, 
And beauty that's bartered for gold. 
Even the heaven is clouded and black, 
And the muddy roofs drip with the rain. 
And the voice of the tempter comes echo- 
ing back, 
"Why sufifer and toil in pain." 

"Broad is the waj^ and its pleasures are 

sweet. 
Flowered with plenty, and gold. 
Rise, Rise and away, and find thy delight. 
For there is but one life, Oh! soul." 
Coffined and shi'ouded, the dead father's 

face. 
Closed are the beautiful eyes. 
But high in the heaven he dwelleth, and 

here. 
Here are the treasures he prized. 

Satan, begone ! the Father in heaven, 
Guideth the wind and the rain. 
What he hath taken m mercy away, 
He giveth in Heaven again. 






JOSHUA'S COMMAND. 



What wonder in the starry heaven, 

Since first her centuries began, 
Like that great day, when thou, bright 

Stood stiU in Ajalon. [world, 

What force or power of cycled years, 

Thrilled through thy vast expanse, 
When Gibeon's messenger of speed, 

Hasted to Gilgal's camp. 

For lo ! within the mountain clefts. 

The Amoritish kings, 
Assembled 'gainst that sovereign power. 

That swift destruction brings. 

Below, the serried ranks of war. 

The slaughter of that heathen horde. 
The dying shriek, the tramp of feet. 

Deep-set in human blood. 
Above, Oh sun, thy chariot wheels. 

At his command stood stiU, 
Thy steeds of fire at his decree. 

Curbed their impatient wiU. 



COLUMBUS, 



"What triumpli througli the eastern globe, 

Thrilled, when triumphant sped. 
The story of that unknown land. 

Beyond Atlantic's flood. 
What changed aspect of men and things. 

What glory flashed through every heart, 
To know the mystery unveiled, 

That God's own hand had held apart. 

But that great master hand that steered. 

His shifting bark o'er unknown seas, 
Lay fettered by the despot's chain, 

While other hands his treasure siezed. 
That mighty brain that planned the chart. 

Of that far land of gold, 
In prison cell neglected lay. 

In agony untold. 

What though another name than thine, 
Was given to our glorious land, 

America forever views, 

Thee clasping freedom's hand. 



THE LETTEE. 81 

Her chaplet circling with the rays, 

Of God's own beams of light, 
Thy brow, that crowned with fadeless bays, 

Before Him shineth bright. 



THE LETTEE. 



Oh! white winged dove, thou hast flown, 

From out of the shadowy west, 
To bring me a message of love, 

And here on my heart shalt thou rest. 
For my darling's hand hath touched. 

Thy pages again and again. 
And perhaps her lips have pressed, 

Lightly her dear one's name. 

I will fly to her now and clasp. 

Her close in a lover's embrace, 
And rain sweet kisses on brow and cheek, 

And hide her blushing face, 
Close down on my true, true heart. 

That shall never know a change, 
For my love is unlike all other, 

And will not choose to range. 



A FOEEST SKETCH. 



Oh ! the cool and dewy freshness, 

Of the forest depths in June, 
And the wild-buxVs note a sweUing, 

And the cricket's sorrowing tune. 
"Where the twisted branches woven, 

With the wood-bine's clustering sj)rays, 
Shut out the sunrays from the quiet. 

Of those darkened Avoodland ways. 

All the wild-vines crept and gathered, 

Kound our old-time trysting place, 
Mossy rock where queer old lichens. 

Clustered on its storm beat face. 
And I know my heart beat quicker, 

W^hen thy footstep in the leaves, 
Scared the squirrel, harvesting, 

'Neath the chestnut s spreading eaves. 

Oh! the tender rapturous kisses, 
And the perfume faint and sweet. 

Of the new mown hay a-drying, 
In th:^ June-tide's fervid heat. 



EYES. 83 



Love was sweet, and Youth was golden, 
Skies were bright and blue above, 

And no life is worth the living, 
That has not a garnered love. 



EYES. 



Bonny blue eyes, they say you are true, 
But I hold it a question of doubt. 
For I know you would glance and admire. 
If black eyes singled you out. 

Shrewd gray eyes, they say you are keen, 
And insist on having your rights, 
And that you are sparing of love, 
And ready for high words or fight. 

Sparkling black eyes, you can storm, 
The heart you intend to attack, 
For who can resist the delight, 
Of throwing your sweet glances back. 

Quiet brown eyes, you are true, 
You can win, and securely can keep, 
You are fountains of passion and love, 
For quiet streams ever run deep. 



BENUNCIATION. 



Here are tlie letters, and here is the ring, 
Does it shj) off easil}^ ? No. 
But dings with a touch unbecoming, 
The hands that tremble so. 

Weak? not weak, but oppressed, 
"With a nameless dread and a fear, 
That he will note the decline, 
Of the repellant force I would bear. 

Here is a rose and a lily, 
Faded, and pressed Avith care, 
And here is a mocking cui'l, 
Of silken, dead-gold hau\ 

Ah well ! what is Life but loving, 
And loving is foUy and strife, 
But better the maid shoukl discover, 
Tliis truth, than the stricken wife. 

Sunsliiiie and shadow, they go to make, 
The seasons and cvcles of Time, 



EENUNCIATION. 85 

And no man guideth the hail and the rain, 
The snow, and the harvest time. 

And the tides flow on, and the birds, 
Bring out theu' young in their nests, 
And no man watcheth the royal growtli, 
Of the lily's loveliness. 

But Love is a plant that thrives. 
On sorrow, and beauty, and pain. 
And Truth is a phantom that flits. 
Through the mazes of the brain. 

Love, ah! he loves not me, 

And there was not a shadow of truth. 

In the vow he sware to me. 

That he reverenced beauty and youth. 

For her face with its great black eyes, 
And its hollow circles of pain. 
And the faded beauty she holds. 
Belie the story again. 

Once she was sweet and fair. 

Now she is faded and worn. 

And he to come with the face of a liar. 

And swear he loved me alone. 

Love, not I, neither scorn nor hate. 
But the longing pain and desire. 



RENUNCIATION. 

For the fresnness of heart, and the peace, 
That was mine, bui'ns into my brain like 
fire. 

If I could think of myself as one, 
That had faced the Avind and the tide, 
And viewed my bark, with its shattered 

sail, 
On the ocean floating wide. 

Then could I say, Oh, sea ! thou art false, 

And not to be trusted or tried. 

For my ship went down with her colors 

true. 
Floating in scornful pride. 

Shall I weep? no, weeping softens the 

heart, 
And makes us forgiving and meek. 
And I would not spare him the pain. 
Of the truth I intend to speak. 

*' Mine," he said, and he looked in m}' eyes, 
And held their glance as the snake. 
Snares the bii'd in the shadowy wood. 
From her leafy nest in the brake. 

"Thine," I said, and I held it dear, 
That God had given me grace, 
To love not anything false or fair. 
But to keej^ my girlish faith. 



EENUNCIATION. 87 

For here I said, of a truth I have found, 
.What never before was possessed, 
A heart so true that no other love. 
Could live in its pui'e embrace. 

False, have I found him ? well, I was vain 
Or I should not have thought to find, 
A troth so strong that it would not grow. 
Weak with the pressure of Time. 

Dead ashes are these, faded lily and rose, 
And worthless trifles the letters and ring, 
But somehow I wonder, when he knows, 
That I am aware of this thing — 

If he will feel a desire, 

To put the j)ast so far away, 

From out his life that not a ray, 

Of its olden beauty and fire. 

Shall sometimes steal to the depths, 

Of his heart, and lift him higher. 

Oh ! heart, thou art one of the many, 
That this night bend and weep, 
Over the ashes of love. 
And its mjTiad forms of deceit. 

I will not woo thee again to rest. 
In my heart, thou spoiler of peace, 
Not if thou wert fairer than dawn, 
And hofht as the rain bow's fleece. 



88 PKAYER. 

I close thy record, Oh Hfe, 

Hearts were trumps and I won, - 

Now diamonds are first, and she wko wims. 

Will rue it as I have done. 



PRATER. 



"Oh! I am so tired of life," 

A weary mother said, 
As on her tear-wet pillow, 

She laid her aching head. 
Three little ones to feed and clothe. 

To earn their daily bread. 
To hear the nightly echo. 

Of the di-unken father's tread- 
There came a day in Winter, 

The frost was on the pane, 
The di-ifted snow lay heavily. 

O'er meadow, stile, and lane, 
AVithin her cheerless home the mother, 

Listened with a heart of pain, 



PRAYER. 89 

To the little voices crying, 

Faint with hunger, chilled and cold, 
Oh ! the half of human sorrow, 

Ne'er was written, sung, or told. 

Down upon the cheerless lloor, 

The anguished mother bends the knee. 
""Father, to th}^ care commending, 

These, the little children three. 
Thou who knowest every heart-throb, 

That thy suffering children feel. 
Thou whose care that never faileth, 

Guideth e'en the sparrow's fall.'' 

" Send thy blessing, loving Savior, 

Down upon this heart so weak, 
Shield me from the dire temptation. 

That daily, hourly, I must meet. 
Ever resting in thy strength. 

Trusting in thy wise command. 
For I know thou boldest ever, 

In the hollow of thy hand, 
Thy cnildren. Father let the sunlight. 

Of thy glory pierce the night." 



Round the cheerful fire are gathered, 
The mother, and her manly boys, 

Are the dreary past forgotten, 
In the present's heartfelt joys. 



90 PKAYEE. 

In his silent grave the father, 

Sleeps the sleep of dreamless rest, 
But her's the hand that drew liim uj)ward, 

From the mm-fiend's iron grasp. 
Hers the heart that true and faithful, 

Woke him to great Tmth at last, 
Died he in a noble manhood. 

With his hand in hers locked fast. 

Science with its legion doctrines. 
Atheists with their creeds of heU, 

Seek to break the old-time faith. 
That our stern forefathers held. 

But that God who kept the Hebrew 

Children from the wrath of flame, 
That God who fed his faithful servant. 

Prophet great of ancient fame, 
Bv the ravens, He, who Daniel, 

Saved from the devowing jaws, 
Of the lion, lives as truly. 

Now to answer anguished jDrayer. 

That Great Hand that sweetly folded. 

To His heart the Httle ones, 
He who to ransom sinners knew, 

The sepulchre's dismal gloom. 
He who pierced with many thorns. 

Bore the agonies of Death, 
Knoweth every heart's affliction, 

Answereth every prayer of faith. 



THE PASSION OF A DREAM. 



The turtles by the river's edge, 
Crept silently along, 
And the water-snake lay coiled, 
In the glare of the noonday sun. 

No zephyr lightly stirring, 
Shook the willow's long green plumes, 
No wing of wild-bird whirring, 
Broke the stillness of the noon. 

The blue heaven lay in shadow, 
Of the great red flaming sun, 
And the distant sky and ocean, 
Seened blended into one. 

Fresh from the city's crowded streets, 
Its long strait lines of brick, 
Its scenes of suffering, and of pain, 
That turn the strong heart sick. 

Deep in the lush green grass I lay, 
And watched the sleepy kine, 



92 THE PASSION OF A DEEAM. 

Knee-deep among the river-ferns, 
Browsing the tender vines. 

I slept a sleep of passionate dreaming, 
Wierd shapes of demons, and of stars, 
A back-ground made, them rose before me. 
Supremely bright, a vision fair. 

A form permitting no description. 
My gaze discerned not lips or e^^es. 
Nor any color, nor limb-shaping. 
But clouds of faint perfume did rise. 

Shadowing that power of Life sublime, 
A destiny that would control. 
My Future, and make Time's axis turn. 
The wheel of Fate whereon it rolled. 

I wandered through the mazy shadows. 
Of by-gone ages where there shone. 
Old altars bronzed with heathen statues. 
Of horses- winged, of bats and gnomes. 

Seeking that plenitude of grandeur. 
Some ghostly shadow of a hope, 
Drew me still deeper in the shadow. 
Of their dim labyrinth's to grope. 

I said, "the voiceless mystery I seek. 
Which if I find, no power shall wrest 
from me. 



TIfE PASSION OF A DREAM. 93 

Will bring to me the ripe fruition, 
Of great Eternity." 

The form took shape, a lovely vision, 
Bent o'er me with an angel's brow, 
With eyes of light, in j^ity shining, 
And lips that breathed a sacred vow. 

"Keturn thou from thy lonely quest, 
I am that power the gods call Love, 
Possessing first, no form or shape. 
But floating round the hearts of Youth, 
My fibrous chords fore'er entwining, 
Beauty, and Sin, and Grief, and Tru^h." 

"I live among, the festal throng sui'- 

rounding. 
The thrones of empires and of kings. 
The strong heart of the sage and scholar, 
I brush, and wound with arrowy wing." 

"I light the dungeon's deepening gloom, 
The captive chained in torturing pain. 
Would fain forget in agony of feeling. 
Save that within his soul I still remain." 

" The God thou worship23est enthroned, 
Mid shining walls of splendorous light, 
On height of heaven reigns, 
Parallel with power my own." 



94 THE PASSION OF A DREAM. 

• 

"Thy God is love, and I, that essence, 
Distilled by his creating hand, 
That wounded in the heart I conquer, 
Within His breast a refuge claim." 

"Into thy being, Oh! sleeper there shall 

. fall, 
A di'op of that celestial fire, 
Quelling the fountains of unrest, 
Watering the lihes of thy pure desire." 

The vision j)assed, the night-dew falUng, 
Lay deep upon the heavy grass, 
The fanlike stretch of blue above me. 
Lay rifted where the pale moon passed. 

I rose, my dreaming over-flowing. 
The ebbing tides of my full heart, 
I entered at the cottage gate. 
And sat among the flowers apart. 



The summer days into the autumn faded, 
And still I lingered, wondering much, 
What phantasy it was that held me, 
That thralled with lightsome touch — 

My heart, that now no longer fi-ee, 
Lay fettered by tliat might}' power. 



A VOICE OF ERIN. 95 

Heart-free" I said, "I shall be when/' 
I roam no more amid these bowers." 



I told her all my dream of Passion, 
O'erawed by weight of grieving sighs, 
And folded to her heart, beheld, 
Love's glory shade her rapturous eyes. 

My dream brought forth its own fulfilling, 
Its fibrous tissues crept and twined, 
Round our two hearts, and blended wholly, 
Two hemispheres of mind. 



A VOICE OF EEIN. 



Oh! green isle of Erin, the touch of the 

master. 
O'er the chords of thy broken harp thriUs, 
Reechoes, and trances with strains of 

enchantment, 
The brave hearts of hberty still. 



96 A VOICE OF ERIN. 

Oil! patriot hearts in freedom uprising, 

Trom a monarch's tyrannical rule, 

The blood of thy martjTS shall stain her 

proud banner, 
"When'er to the free winds unfurled. 

In dungeons of deej^est and darkest dis- 
tress, 

Consigned by the merciless hand, 

Of a monarch, the flower of Ireland 
perished, 

Or died by the mui'derer's hand. 

Oh! Ireland, arise in the strength of thy 

might, 
Thy beautiful garments put on, 
For see in the distance the fast-growing 

light, 
"When the sweet green shamrock shall 

bloom — 

In its brightness and beauty, its jDctals 

unfolding, 
In Libert3''s soil ever nourished by lights 
Of Freedom's bright sun, whose shadow 

shall ever, 
Adorn thy fair banner of right. 



AN UNWRITTEN POEM. 



Windy March morn made dark, 
By the inky blackness of sky, 
Winds groaning and sighing in pain, 
Blowing bare branches awry. 

A hollow, all fringed with the hazels, 
Brown growths, and twining between, 
The bitter-sweet's scarlet agiowing. 
Bereft of its shading of green. 

The dry grass crackles and bends, 
Neath a footstep nimble and light, 
Two brown eyes are ashine, 
Two crimson cheeks glowing and bright. 

Wistfully pausing, she lingers, 
At foot of the leafless old beech, 
The hazel's stu% and his step. 
She hastens in rapture to greet. 

Inky black sky, thou art drear, 
And winds, thou art cruel and cold, 



98 AN UNWRITTEN POEM. 

What do they care for your sighing, 
Or the frost down under the mold. 

In their hearts throbs a mystical rhyme, 
A song that shall never grow old, 
That is new wliile the cycles of Time, 
The century's pages unfold. 

Blow winds, fall rains, and flow over, 
The rivers that on to the sea, 
Ai-e bearing their burden of blessing, 
For the thirsting of bright summer days. 

Oh! wonderful heart of creation. 
Thy depths ever tremble and tlirill, 
With the far-off music of ages, 
O'er thy love-harp echoing still. 

Bare brown hollow, thou boldest, 
A poem, wdth cadence more sweet, 
Than the pen of the rhymer may trace, 
A picture more tender and sweet. 

Than the pencil may shape in the hand, 
Of the artistic dreamer of Thought, 
Thou hast jewels more precious and rare. 
Than ever from Indies were brought. 

Beautiful eyes, shine on, 

Beautiful lips, thy troth, 

Kepeat, who gave thee blessing of Love, 

Speaks, and bids thee rejoice. 



TO WILLIE. 



As flowers turn toward the light. 

So turns my thought to thee, 
And brighter than the sunlight's gold, 

Is thy sweet smile to me. 
Though fortune hath not on thee smiled, 

Though men may crown with blame, 
To me through varying good and ill, 

Thou e'er hast been the same. 

The cares of Life, the woes of time, 

Misfortune's fickle darts. 
May fall and wound thee, dear, but I, 

Am of thy life a part. 
What reck I of the adverse winds, 

Of social laws apart, 
I close the avenues of strife, 

To nestle on thy faithful heart. 

No length of time, no gloomy space. 

Of parted years shall find. 
My heart less true, but to thine own. 

Its chords shall closer bind. 



100 TO WILLIE. 

I love tliee for tliy strong true faith, 

In unseen power of God, 
I love tliee for tb}- stedfast truth, 

Unto thy pHghted word. 

Thy sorrow^s mine, my joys are thine, 

I ask no higher bhss, 
Than gazing in thy faithful eyes. 

To meet thy true fond kiss. 
Thy tears of sorrow, and of j^ain, 

Have fallen with mine own, 
And through the trials of years, 

To thee I've closer grown. 

One perfect Avhole of pure delight, 

Our blended lives have shaped, 
And loyal truth that argent sphere, 

So guards that none may break. 
They err who claim that beauty's bloom, 

Departing leaves but Dead-sea finiit, 
The leaves of Youth forever green, 

Remain when love and truth unite. 



AN INVOCATION. 



Else up, Oil! soul from slumber, 
Rise up and go thy Avay, 
There are crosses without number, 
That thou must bear to day. 
There are pilgrims by the wayside. 
Who heavy burdens bear, 
Of grief and bitter longing, 
Of pain and worldly care. 

Oh soul! thou may'st not linger. 
Within the cool green shade, 
While all along the highway, 
Eesounds the pilgrim's tread. 
The iron bands of tyrrany. 
Clasp round and sore oppress, 
Thy brethren, and injustice rules, 
God's courts of holiness. 

There are little waifs astray, 
In the city's crowded streets. 
That thy hand may pluck away, 
Like brands from burning heat. 



102 AN INVOCATION. 

There are manly lips that quaff, 
This day, the first red cup, 
Wherein the adder coils and sends. 
Its poisonous incense up. 

There are those, Oh ! God forgive them, 

"Who this very day will seek, 

Their prey among the lowly, 

Toiling on with faded cheek. 

Striving for the meagre pittance, 

That the soul and body join, 

Thou, Oh ! soul, may'st breathe a prayer, 

That He will keep his own. 

There's a work, Oh! soul, so great. 
In our fair Christ-land to do. 
That from its might thou may'st shrink. 
Lest God's own power help thee through. 
Myriad halls of shame and sorrow. 
That bring tears from angel ejes, 
Where t]ie weary, and forsaken. 
Welcomed are as greedy prize. 

Shall we seek them out, and hold them, 
In the pulpit s shrines of truth, 
Instil tlieir wrongs, and painful vices. 
In the pure white hearts of Youth ? 
No ! human hearts were ne'er made better. 
By the sight of shame and vice. 
Better carry the dire misfortune. 
To the gracious throne of Christ. 



AN INVOCATION. 103 

One way, and only one there lieth, 
Through this desert waste of shame, 
To redeem from endless scorning, 
This great blot on woman's name. 
Stronger hearts must first be melted, 
They who willingly betray, 
They who Virtue's shining jewels, 
From her casket pluck away. 

With them this giant reformation. 
Must begin, in Jesus' name, 
Let them on God's strength relying, 
Woman save from greater shame. 
Oh! how many of His children. 
Preach and pray for Magdalen, 
Who would feel contaminated, 
If she touched their garment's hem. 

Man! rise up in holy grandeur. 
Cast thy robe of sin away. 
Helping to reclaim the erring. 
From the broad and sinful way. 
Thou wilt find a sweeter blessing. 
In the honored name of wife, 
Than the husks of sin polluting. 
All thine inner truth and life. 
If thou clothe with purity, 
Thyself, let woman go her way. 
She will prove thy truest treasure, 
She Avill never go astray. 



THE PESTILENCE— 1878. 



O'er the Soutliwest's tropic beauty, 

Swej)t the cold grim hand of Death, 
Came the yellow simoom fiUing, 

All the land with poisonous breath. 
Slowly creeping to the hearthstones, 

Where the brightest and the best, 
Filled the home Avith mirth and gladness. 

Sweetest joy and happiness. 

Oh ! the anguished moans of sorrow, 

From the mother's hps that came, 
When one by one her tiny nestlings, 

Burned beneath its wasting flame. 
And the biide of yesterday, 

Gay with marriage robe and wreath. 
Left the strong true arms that held her. 

For the cold embrace of Death. 

Oh ! a great and awful stillness, 
Shadowed all the weary land, 

All the avenues of Coinnierce, 
Shut by that devouring hand. 



THE PESTILENCE— 1878. 105 

For in every home the faces, 
Of the dead lay stark and white. 

And the great sun glaring hotly, 
Down upon the maddening sight. 

There the father watched and waited, 

Till he saw the children fall, ^ 
And the mother struggling vainly. 

In the yellow demon's thrall. 
There the faces of the living. 

Smitten seemed with Heaven's wrath, 
And their wan white lips would quiver, 

As they trod stern Duty's path. 

Mingled with the groans and anguish, 

That from dying lij^s there came, 
Sweetly fell the prayers and blessing. 

Of the martyr-saints that came, 
From the North, the East, the West, 

Forth from homes of wealth and ease, 
Smoothing pillows of the dying, 

Braving peril and disease. 

Oh 1 the blessed name of woman, 

How it thrilled the sufferer's ears. 
How her gentle touch of blessing, 

Quieted the sick one's fears. 
And the black-robed saints who lingered, 

Till they fell beneath the touch, 
Of the grim destroyer, never, 

Murmurino:, but lovino- much. 



106 THE PESTILENCE— 1878, 

Tliey in Heaven a glorious crowning, 

From the Father's hand receive, 
For they followed in His footstej)s, 

AVho had known all earthly grief. 
Oh ! the columned smoke of battle, 

Kolled away in Heaven's blue, 
And tlie blood of brethren blended. 

On the bunch-gTass wet with dew, 

Grlows no more, no more there rankles. 

In brave Southern hearts the bane. 
Of any smouldering fire of passion, 

That a breath shall fan to fiame. 
For the breaches of the old-time, 

That red-handed AVar had made, 
All were bridged by Northern hands, 

And the graves that newly made. 
Hold the remnants of that struggle. 

Blue and gray together laid, 
In that darkened time of terror, [fade. 

Were wreathed with bays that never 

Tears of anguish wrung from hearts, 

That had wept their fountains dry, 
And the lands that held apart, 

Joined hand and heart that day. 
From the North, the white sail drifted, 

Bearing healing on its wing. 
Freighted \nth the cooling nectar. 

The sufferer's boon of blessiuG^. 



WATER LILIES. 107 

Oh ! the pestilence hath passed, 

And its trace of death is there, 
Thousand homes left desolate, 

All despite the anguished prayer. 
But the blue and gray are blended, 

And the old flag waveth fair, 
God's own hand hath wrought the weaving, 

Of the strands of peace and prayer. 



WATEE LILIES. 



The red sun slowly sank adown. 

The purjDle mountain's brow. 
The robin from his leaf-bound nest. 

His evening song trilled low. 
The broad lake like ii sea of fire, 

Shone in the sunset's flash. 
No sound the solemn stillness broke, 

Save the broad oar's deep plash. 

And tinged with rays of crimson fire. 
Like robes of saints that caugiit the glow, 

From mantling wing of cherubim, 
In beds of drifted snow, 



108 WATEE LILIES. 

The water-lilies opened lay, 

Athwart the shining flood, 
The alders by the lake's clear edge, 

Seemed banners bathed in blood. 

Then o'er the boat's low edge I leant. 

And plucked a largess rare, 
Of lilies, from their glossy bed, 

And bound them in her hair. 
" Oh ! love," I said, " no empress crowned," 

"With gems of shining light. 
Could share a worship half so true. 

As thou dost hold to night. 

The sweet bro\vn eyes one moment shone, 

I fancied, with Love's light, 
Then drooj)ed their silken fringes down. 

And hid them from my sight. 
The purple twilight cast her robe. 

Athwart the shining mere, 
My lover's heart, so loud it beat, 

I feared the winds might hear. 

The lilies perfume floated sweet. 

And from her lips there came. 
Like angel melody of thought. 

The murmur of my name. 
Oh! God, they tell us Heaven alone, 

Can hold transcendent bliss. 
But longing for the Heaven, I own, 

Was quenched in that flrst kiss. 



ABATER LILIES. 109 

The twilight deepened as we neared, 

The shore's broad waves of green, 
"Oh! love," I whispered, "if the world," 

A lake of silver sheen — 
Were, sailed by this frail boat of mine, 

And thou and I within. 
Say, woukVst thou sail Avith me, my love, 

Beyond the Present's dream? 
Would'st dare the Future's changing 

And Life's uncertain stream? [shores, 

She drew the lilies from her hair, 

And wove them in a crown, 
"Oh! gems are they of beauty rare. 

But soon the morrow's sun. 
Will steal their sweetness and their bloom. 

And fade them every one." 

"Oh! darling,' cried I, "to mine own,' 

Thine eyes responsive glow. 
Shall beam as bright for me e'en when. 

Thy locks are streaked with snow. 
Thy cheek its beauty's bloom may lose, 

To other eyes, not mine. 
For Love survives the long decay, 

Of centuries sublime." 




PKOGEESS. 



There's a song that is ringing tlirough echoless 

caves, 
There's a current that's turning the world and 

its waves, 
There's a spirit that walks on the measui-eless 

sea. 
Of Time in her glory unfettered and fi-ee. 

There's a power that's rising and scattering afar. 
The mists of the i^ast, and disclosing the star, 
That shall beam and out-shine every planet of 

light, 
And eclipse in its glory the wonders of Night. 

The song of salvation, the stiflmg of creed, 
The one law of love that the Master decreed, 
It heralds the anthem of glory and peace, 
That sounding shall flow, when the centuries 
cense. 

The current of action, that great Nature's will, 
Doth guide through the forces of inventive 
skill. 



PROGRESS. Ill 

Shall pierce to the home of the planet and star, 
And reveal all the glory that shineth afar. 

The spirit of Science, that fearlessly treads. 
The shrines of the ancient, whose kingdoms 

lie dead, 
Shall reveal to the ear of the Future the dream, 
And tell us the truths that the ages have seen. 

She shall journey through glacier and limitless 

snow, 
For far to the North her music shall flow, 
From the farthest expanses of creation's sphere. 
Her banner shall wave, and her compass shall 

steer. 

She shall stand face to face with the wonders 

of Heaven, 
And speak with the tongues that the Father 

hath given, 
To his children above, in the limitless sky, 
The peoples and planets of ages gone by. 

The beast shall be freed from the bondage of 

toil, 
And no more shall the ships in the blue waters 

roll. 
The reign of the steam-king shall perish for 

aye, 
And a measureless wonder of speed in the sky. 



132 PROGRESS. 

Their eyes shall behold who shall people our- 

sphere, 
For the travelers steeds shall be yoked in the 

air. 

Then the kingdoms and peoples, and teachers 

of men, 
Shall be taught by a power aside from the pen. 
The power of Creation shall rise and make room, 
For the great hand of Progress to scatter the 

gloom. 

We shall he in our gi-aves, and the ages shall 

roU, 
And the centuiies drift, and the Future unfold, 
The volumes of science, of knowledge and i 

power. 
Unclasped by the Hand that holds the Earth's 

dower. I 

I 

Roll ages, roll on, roll centuries roll, | 

The earth shall decay, but immortal the soul, i 

But the flowers we garner in gardens of Love, ' 

Forever shall bloom in the Eden above. , 




FACES. 



Faces, faces, strong true faces, 

That we trust, scarce knowing why. 

Impress of a noble manhood, 

Stamped on cheek, and brow, and eye. 

Faces, faces, scornful faces, 

Ye that stand, Oh ! pray take heed, 

Lest ye fall, your feet entangled. 
In your own peculiar creed. 

Faces, faces, wretched faces. 
Framed in jewels, and in laces, 

Oh! we meet them every day, 
Hurr^-ing on to swift decay. 

Faces, faces, pallid faces, 

Hollow-eyed, and drawn with pain. 
In some narrow garret striving, 

Lifes bare j^ittance for to gain. 

Faces, faces, soulless faces, 
That familiar with disgraces. 



lU 



FACES. 



Heed not pity's pleading cry, 
All unheeding passing by. 

Faces, faces, God's own faces, 
Faces that our hearts will prize, 

When their curving lines of beauty, 
Faded are to other eyes. 

Oh! the faces that we love, 

They will ever dawn and shine, 

To cheer us though the mortal imprint, 
Lies within the grave's dark slurine. 




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